Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-06

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

 

 

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The two maps compare the layout of Porth Harbour between 2000 and today.

By and large, the main features remained the same, although some locations were renovated and their functions were converted into new ones.

First of all, a new dock was built at the north of the map, near the old one. At the left of the new dock are now located fishing boats, in fact the spaces dedicated to fishing boats and private yachts were switched. New showers and toilets were built near the marina and the entrance of the car park is now directly connected to the main road. At the south of the map, café and shops were added adjacent to lifeboats.

Looking at the similarities, even though the disused castle did not change location, it changed intended use, indeed it was reconverted into a hotel, which has been connected to other facilities through e new road. Although the old public beach under the castle is now dedicated to hotel guests, a public beach remains at the north of the docks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You give a clear overview that the harbour has largely retained its layout while some facilities and uses have changed, and you identify several major developments: the exchange of the fishing-boat and yacht areas, the hotel replacing the disused castle, and the southern beach becoming private. These points are generally grounded in the plans. However, some details are imprecise or omitted. The new dock is described as being built, whereas the existing dock gains an additional jetty and a second berthed boat. The cafés and shops are beside the lifeboat station, but this is not clearly stated, and the new showers and toilets and car park arrangements could be described more accurately. A fuller account of the main changes would make the summary more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing changes and similarities. The sequence from the northern harbour to the southern features is broadly understandable, and linking phrases such as “By and large,” “First of all,” and “Looking at the similarities” help signal the stages of the account. However, the final paragraph is not consistently organised around similarities: it mainly describes changes, and “Looking at the similarities” therefore misdirects the reader. Some connections are also awkward, particularly the long sentence beginning “Although the old public beach…” and the repeated use of “now.” Grouping the changes by area or by type, and using more precise references, would make progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of vocabulary for describing map changes, including “layout,” “adjacent,” “converted,” “recon­verted,” and “dedicated,” and the meaning is generally clear. There is some flexibility in describing changes of use and location. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural for this task: “a new dock was built” does not accurately describe the added jetty, while “spaces … were switched” is less precise than saying the facilities exchanged locations. “Renovated” is also not the best term for changes in function, and “connected to other facilities through a new road” is unclear. Aim for precise map language such as “relocated,” “replaced by,” and “an additional jetty was added.” Check spelling and word forms, including “cafés” and “facilities.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including clauses with “although” and “even though,” and most of the message remains easy to follow. Some sentences are controlled, such as “The two maps compare the layout of Porth Harbour between 2000 and today.” However, errors and awkward constructions occur in more complex sentences. In “At the left of the new dock are now located fishing boats,” the inversion is unnatural; use “Fishing boats are now located to the left of the dock.” The final sentence combines two contrasting ideas with “Although” and “now” in a way that makes the relationship difficult to follow. There is also a missing article in “a café and shops” and a typo in “e new road.” Use simpler clause structures where needed and check articles, sentence boundaries, and punctuation.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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